Online game purchase

Why it matters: In-game purchases and pay-to-win mentality have become a bane of gaming. Publishers such as EA got in the habit of delivering the bare basics of the game mechanics and immediately introduced expanded functionality and a gaming edge to those willing to pay extra. Games ended up being a pale shadow of what they should be, until you broke out the credit card for the extras. The Pan-European Game Information board (PEGI), the European counterpart to the ESRB, is introducing a new label to flag games which contain in-game purchases, starting today. The labels, dubbed "content descriptors" by PEGI, warn consumers about the type of dangers which games pose - whether it involves sex, drugs, language, violence, discrimination or a simple always-on internet connection. The new labeling aims to help consumers, and parents in particular, in choosing titles while being made aware of what the game entices. The new content descriptor for in-game purchases will be used on the … [Read more...] about PEGI introduces new package labeling for in-game purchases

Aug 15, 6:20 PM EDT Newsletter Signup BusinessTechnologyWorldNationalMedia & CultureOpinionSportsLuxury Technology By Alex Perry 08/15/18 AT 4:46 PM Tencent Holding Limited, one of the world's biggest corporations, has established itself as a titan in the gaming industry. However, the Chinese conglomerate took a stock hit this week due to concerns over its gaming revenue in the short term after one of its premier titles was suddenly blocked from sale in China, according to Reuters.Tencent lost $15 billion in market value Tuesday after a 3.4 percent dip in its price of shares. In its Wednesday earnings report, Tencent posted a 2 percent net loss in income during the last quarter compared to the previous year, according to CNN. Tencent also reported a 19 percent drop in online gaming revenue from last quarter.“Monster Hunter World” was a smash hit when it launched on PS4 and Xbox One earlier this year in most of the world. With more than 8 million … [Read more...] about Tencent Online Gaming Revenue Down From 2017, Shares Drop After ‘Monster Hunter’ Ban

Fortnite isn’t going away any time soon. In fact, it’s headed in just one direction: up. According to a new report from market research firm SuperData Research, the insanely popular game has now sold more than $1 billion in in-game purchases alone. For anyone bemoaning the increasing reliance of games on pushing in-game purchases, this is why we can’t have nice things! Fortnite is a money-printing machine Fortnite on all platforms, not just iOS, it’s still illustrative of just how massive the game is at this point. wrote about Fortnite‘s success, back in June, the game had raked in $100 million on iOS alone. As it is, the game has already proven itself as one of the most popular mobile games in history. In its first month on mobile alone, Fortnite took in more than $25 million, which increased to $50 million by day 45. Fortnite‘s in-app purchases are likely disheartening to anyone who wishes they would vanish entirely, it’s worth noting … [Read more...] about Fortnite rakes in a staggering $1 billion from in-game purchases

In response to increasing pressure from state legislators over the issue of loot boxes in video games, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has announced it will start adding an "In-Game Purchases" label to games. "ESRB’s goal is to ensure that parents have the most up-to-date and comprehensive tools at their disposal to help them decide which games are appropriate for their children," said ESRB president Patricia Vance. "With the new In-Game Purchases interactive element coming to physical games, parents will know when a game contains offers for players to purchase additional content." While the sentiment is noble, the application of the new rule is meaningless and unhelpful. According to the new guideline, the ESRB will label any game that allows purchases to occur from within the game menu, regardless of what is being purchased. "The new In-Game Purchases label will be applied to games with in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premiums with real-world … [Read more...] about Loot box controversy prompts ESRB to create ‘In-Game Purchases’ label

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) today announced that all physical, boxed games that contain in-game purchases will include a label notifying purchasers of that fact "in the near future." The new program expands on a similar "digital purchases" label that already appears alongside the ratings for exclusively downloadable games that appear on some digital storefronts. The "in-game purchases" label will appear on the box right by the game's letter rating, nearby but separate from existing content descriptors such as "Intense Violence," "Nudity," and "Strong Sexual Content." The label will be applied evenly to all games that include any additional content to be purchased, including "bonus levels, skins, surprise items (such as item packs, loot boxes, mystery awards), music, virtual coins and other forms of in-game currency, subscriptions, season passes and upgrades (e.g., to disable ads)," the ESRB said in a press release. multiple state legislatures have begun … [Read more...] about ESRB defends “fun” loot boxes as it starts labeling all “in-game purchases” [Updated]